Monday, August 13th, the citizens of our usually peaceful little town
were startled by the report that one of our citizens had been murdered in cold
blood. The report proved to be only too true. The perpetrator of the atrocious
deed was Will Sherman, a young man about 18 years of age and his victim was
Lincoln Heaton, aged 21 years. Both parties resided in town and were members of
rival butcher firms. Considerable trouble has existed between Shermans and
Heatons for some time and numerous encounters between different members of the
two families have taken place. All this served to intensify the hatred existing
between them and led to the terrible crime committed last Monday.

The facts in the case are substantially as follows. Heaton, the murdered man,
had been home to dinner and was returning to the shop with dinner for his
brother who remains in the shop during the noon hour. As he was passing up the
alley in the rear of Sherman’s butcher shop a stick was thrown over the fence by
Will Sherman, whether purposely or not is not known, which came nearly striking
him. Angry words ensued and Heaton finally passed on to his place of business. A
few minutes later Sherman came up the alley and passed by Heaton’s shop on his
way to dinner. Heaton, who was sitting on the steps, arose and called out: “Hold
on, Pee-wee” (a nick-name of Sherman’s) and advanced towards him in a
threatening manner. Sherman hastily drew a butcher knife and when Heaton came up
to him thrust it into his heart and started up the street on the run. Heaton
took a few steps northward, fell to the sidewalk and expired without uttering a
word. All this happened in front of the post office.

The remains were then carried into Bowman’s warehouse. As soon as Sherman
committed the deed he ran north to Pyle’s carpenter shop, thence east to the
Presbyterian church yard where he crossed, ran south crossing Mr. Brooks’ potato
patch and the alley and entered the rear part of his father’s butcher shop,
passed through and sat down in front. Our town marshal, Chas. Moss, was on his
track and coming up to him in a few minutes said: “Come with me, I want you. You
are my prisoner.” Sherman said: “I’ll go along, I suppose I am gone to h—l
anyhow.” Sherman was then taken to the lock-up and while the doors were being
unlocked Sherman said: “If I had not struck that last time I would have been all
right.” Sherman remained in the calaboose until the coroner’s inquest was held
and was then taken to the Peoria jail by the sheriff, where he now remains.

The coroner and sheriff were immediately notified after the stabbing occurred
and accompanied by the county physician arrived here about 5 o’clock in the
afternoon. A jury was empanelled, a post-mortem examination made and an inquest
held on the remains. Dr. Furry and Dr. Blanchard conducted the post-mortem
examination and certified the cause of death. This is the testimony of the
witnesses examined before the coroner’s jury.

Frank Bowman said that Sherman came up the alley and that Heaton went over to
him. They had a few words and Sherman told Heaton not to touch him, but Heaton
struck at Sherman who then stabbed him. Sherman then ran away and went on, after
putting his arms to his breast, took a few steps forward and fell on his face.
Witness was sitting on the steps of Heatons’ butcher shop.

Thomas German, aged 17 years, works for Shermans. He stated that Mr. Sherman,
the father of Will Sherman, sent him and Will to grease the peddling wagon on
the morning of the murder. The wagon stood in the alley east of the post office.
They backed the wagon in the yard by Sherman’s smokehouse and Will Sherman
picked up a stick and threw it into the alley and Lincoln Heaton, who happened
to be passing, said that Sherman threw it at him. Heaton set his dinner pail on
the ground and offered to fight but Sherman refused. Heaton then said that he
would hammer him when he went past his shop to dinner. When he and Will started
to dinner, Will was ahead. Just as he turned to go up the street past the post
office Heaton jumped up and said: “Hold on, Billy,” and made a motion as if to
strike Sherman. Sherman said: “Don’t touch me,” and witness thought Heaton
struck Sherman on the muscle of the arm. Heaton then raised his arms as in
fighting and Sherman stabbed him and then ran north past the carpenter shop. The
knife was one which they used to stick cattle with.

Lee Pursell, aged 13 years, testified that he saw Sherman come up the alley
and Heaton got off the post office steps and stopped him. Will Sherman said:
“Don’t touch me.” Heaton then made a movement as if to strike Sherman, who
stabbed him in the breast. Heaton then fell and Sherman ran away. He said that
Heaton came out of the butcher shop a short time before Sherman came along and
sat down on the post office steps, but he did not see Heaton have any weapon,
nor did he see him strike Sherman.

George C. Paul, our postmaster, said he was behind the delivery window and
for some cause or other happened to glance out and saw the Sherman boy, the one
known as Peewee, have in his hand what looked like a butcher knife. Mr. Paul did
not understand any of the conversation nor see any blows. He started out of the
office as soon as he saw the boys and when he reached the sidewalk all was over.
He saw Heaton start north as if he might be in pursuit of Sherman and soon after
fall on his face. There was a gurgling sound and all was over.

Edward Heaton, a brother of the murdered man, aged 23 years, testified that
he was sitting on the steps of his shop when Will Sherman came through the
alley. Lincoln Heaton got up and went over to Sherman. They had a few words and
then Sherman pulled a butcher knife out of his belt and stabbed Lincoln Heaton.
Lincoln stood still a moment looking at Sherman running away, took about five
steps and fell on his face. Before he fell he looked over his shoulder at the
witness who yet remained seated on the steps.

Verdict of the coroner’s jury:

In the matter of the inquisition on the body of Lincoln Heaton, deceased,
held at Brimfield on the 13th day of August; A. D. 1888, we, the undersigned
jurors, sworn to inquire of the death of Heaton on oath do find that he came to
his death from a wound inflicted by a knife in the hands of William Sherman and
we do recommend that said William Sherman be held in custody to await the action
of the grand jury of said Peoria county concerning said offence without bail.

The funeral services of Lincoln Heaton, the victim of Monday’s tragedy, were
conducted by Rev. Morgan at the family residence, Tuesday afternoon, August
14th, 1888, the remains being interred in the family lot in the cemetery west of
town. A large concourse of relatives and friends of the deceased attracted the
last sad rites.

Any contributions,
corrections, or suggestions would be deeply appreciated!